USC&GS Yukon (1873)
Encyclopedia
USC&GS Yukon was a schooner
that served as a survey ship in the United States Coast Survey from 1873 to 1878 and in its successor agency the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1878 to 1894. She was the pioneering Coast Survey ship in many of the waters of the Territory of Alaska, including the Bering Sea
and the western Aleutian Islands.
Yukon is most noted for cruises under Acting Assistant William Healey Dall in 1873, 1874 and 1880, leading to publication of the Pacific Coast Pilot - Alaska in 1883. The 1873 cruise surveyed the western half of the Aleutian Islands, the eastern half having been surveyed the previous year by the schooner Humboldt. The 1874 cruise first proceeded to Sitka, and then west along the coast of the Gulf of Alaska
as far as Unalaska and then visited Nunivak Island
and the Pribiloff Islands before returning to Sitka. In 1880, The Yukon initially followed much the same course as in 1874, but also included stops at Plover Bay (now Provideniya Bay) on the Siberian coast, the Diomede Islands
, and Point Belcher, Alaska. A particular focus of these trips was to correct the position of the various bays and islands, which were often misplaced by as much as twenty miles on the charts of the era, and to document compass variation. These activities depended on astronomical observation to determine location and direction, observations which were notoriously difficult in the cloudy and variable weather of the Bering Sea. The Plover Bay visits of 1880 served to recalibrate the chronometer
s against the known longitude
of that location. Marcus Baker was the astronomical observer for all three trips. Another focus was collection of biological specimens. The 1880 cruise carried Tarleton Bean as biological observer in addition to Dall. Bean's focus was to document the fish and other marine resources of the region from both a scientific and a practical perspective. Edward Perry Herendeen, a former whaling captain who later went to Point Barrow
with the Ray expedition, was Sailing Master for all three trips.
USC&GS reports show that Yukon also worked in California
and extensively in Washington.
In 1877 and 1878, Yukon carried out a hydrographic survey
of upper Puget Sound
under Lieutenant Richard M. Cutts, USN, assisted by Lieutenants Ambrose B. Wyckoff, and U. Harris. Wyckoff's observations convinced him that Puget Sound held the ideal location for a Navy Yard. His reports and enthusiastic promotion over the subsequent 13 years led to establishment of the Puget Sound Naval Station
at Bremerton, of which he became the first commander 1891-93.
Yukon was retired from service and sold at Tacoma, WA in 1894. She was probably broken up at that time since she does not appear in the Annual List of Merchant Vessels for 1894, 1895, or 1902. Newspaper references to a halibut schooner Yukon may be to a smaller vessel built in Ballard WA, 1894.
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
that served as a survey ship in the United States Coast Survey from 1873 to 1878 and in its successor agency the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1878 to 1894. She was the pioneering Coast Survey ship in many of the waters of the Territory of Alaska, including the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
and the western Aleutian Islands.
Career
Yukon he was the first Coast Survey or Coast and Geodetic Survey ship to bear the name. She entered Coast Survey service in 1873, having been built and outfitted specifically for Alaska service . When the Coast Survey was reorganized in 1878 to form the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Yukon became part of the new service.Yukon is most noted for cruises under Acting Assistant William Healey Dall in 1873, 1874 and 1880, leading to publication of the Pacific Coast Pilot - Alaska in 1883. The 1873 cruise surveyed the western half of the Aleutian Islands, the eastern half having been surveyed the previous year by the schooner Humboldt. The 1874 cruise first proceeded to Sitka, and then west along the coast of the Gulf of Alaska
Gulf of Alaska
The Gulf of Alaska is an arm of the Pacific Ocean defined by the curve of the southern coast of Alaska, stretching from the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island in the west to the Alexander Archipelago in the east, where Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage are found.The entire shoreline of the Gulf is...
as far as Unalaska and then visited Nunivak Island
Nunivak Island
Nunivak Island , the second largest island in the Bering Sea, is a permafrost-covered volcanic island lying about 30 miles offshore from the delta of the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers in the state of Alaska, at about 60° North latitude...
and the Pribiloff Islands before returning to Sitka. In 1880, The Yukon initially followed much the same course as in 1874, but also included stops at Plover Bay (now Provideniya Bay) on the Siberian coast, the Diomede Islands
Diomede Islands
The Diomede Islands , also known in Russia as Gvozdev Islands , consist of two rocky, tuya-like islands:* The U.S. island of Little Diomede or, in its native language, Ignaluk , and* The Russian island of Big Diomede , also known as Imaqliq,...
, and Point Belcher, Alaska. A particular focus of these trips was to correct the position of the various bays and islands, which were often misplaced by as much as twenty miles on the charts of the era, and to document compass variation. These activities depended on astronomical observation to determine location and direction, observations which were notoriously difficult in the cloudy and variable weather of the Bering Sea. The Plover Bay visits of 1880 served to recalibrate the chronometer
Chronometer
Chronometer may refer to:* Chronometer watch, a watch tested and certified to meet certain precision standards* Hydrochronometer, a water clock* Marine chronometer, a timekeeper used for celestial navigation...
s against the known longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
of that location. Marcus Baker was the astronomical observer for all three trips. Another focus was collection of biological specimens. The 1880 cruise carried Tarleton Bean as biological observer in addition to Dall. Bean's focus was to document the fish and other marine resources of the region from both a scientific and a practical perspective. Edward Perry Herendeen, a former whaling captain who later went to Point Barrow
Point Barrow
Point Barrow or Nuvuk is a headland on the Arctic coast in the U.S. state of Alaska, northeast of Barrow. It is the northernmost point of all the territory of the United States, at...
with the Ray expedition, was Sailing Master for all three trips.
USC&GS reports show that Yukon also worked in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and extensively in Washington.
In 1877 and 1878, Yukon carried out a hydrographic survey
Hydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
of upper Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
under Lieutenant Richard M. Cutts, USN, assisted by Lieutenants Ambrose B. Wyckoff, and U. Harris. Wyckoff's observations convinced him that Puget Sound held the ideal location for a Navy Yard. His reports and enthusiastic promotion over the subsequent 13 years led to establishment of the Puget Sound Naval Station
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility is a United States Navy shipyard covering 179 acres on Puget Sound at Bremerton, Washington...
at Bremerton, of which he became the first commander 1891-93.
Yukon was retired from service and sold at Tacoma, WA in 1894. She was probably broken up at that time since she does not appear in the Annual List of Merchant Vessels for 1894, 1895, or 1902. Newspaper references to a halibut schooner Yukon may be to a smaller vessel built in Ballard WA, 1894.
External links
Accounts of the Yukon cruise of 1880- New York Times (1880) Ililuliuk on Unalashka; A graphic picture of a village in Alaska. September 17, Page 2
- New York Times (1880) Cruising in the arctic; The Yukon at St. Paul and at Plover Bay. November 21, Page 8
- New York Times (1880) Ten days in the arctic; The Yukon cruising on the Alaskan coast. December 6, Page 2
- Bean, Tarleton H. "A NATURALIST'S ADVENTURES" in Rudolf Kersting (ed) The white world: life and adventures within the arctic circle portrayed by famous living explorers Lewis, Scribner & co., New York pp 249–266 1902